December 9th, 2015
This week we are sending out a longer newsletter. There is a lot of important information that we had to fit into one newsletter.
- IMPORTANT – New Professional Development Days
- Christmas Concert and Lights of Hope Celebration
- Spirit Week
- AGM and Parent Support Meeting
- Final Call for Parent Classroom Reps
- Parent Survey
- PEC Newsletter
- December 10 Lights of Hope Celebration and School Christmas Concert
- December 11 School Mass (4)
- December 14-18 Spirit Week
New Professional Development Dates
Dear Parents, Next year all public and independent school will be required to teach a redesigned curriculum from Kindergarten to Grade 9. To assist in the transition, the Ministry of Education has been making efforts to prepare teachers and administrators in a variety of way. Recently, more resources were made available to all school in the province. As a result, …
PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Parent volunteers are needed during the Christmas Break to help do some cleaning inside & outside the school. If you are available and you are needing parent participation hours, please call Bob Barry at 604-319-8557.
VIRTUE OF THE MONTH
The virtue of the month for December is charity. The virtue of charity is interchangeable with love. We see this quite a bit in church teaching and throughout scripture. St. Paul says “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling symbol”. Our acts of charity are what bring us closest to God. God has made us in his image and that image is charity (love). Thought this month we encourage students to show charity and love in all situations in order to be closer to God and help fulfill his mission for us – to enter into his kingdom.
SPIRIT WEEK
Next week, December 14th – 18th, the school will have it’s Christmas Spirit Week. Every day the St. Bernadette Student Council has planned fun activities to celebrate the success of the first term and to enhance the festive spirit leading into our Christmas break. For the entire week, students will not be required to wear their uniform as long as they are participating in the daily non-uniform attire. Below are the events for Spirit Week:
Monday Dec. 14th – Ugly Sweater/Christmas Colours Day – wear the ugliest christmas sweater you can find or make. If you don’t have one, come dressed in Christmas colours instead. There will be a fun contest to see who wore the ugliest Christmas sweater possible!
Tuesday Dec. 15th – Crazy Hair/Hat Day – Come to school with your hair all crazy and/or wearing a festive hat. At lunch arts and crafts will be provided for students in the gym.
Wednesday Dec. 16th – Winter Wonderland Day – Come to school dressed for the ski hill! There will be a special event in the library for the students.
Thursday Dec. 17th – Pyjama Day – Come dressed wearing your favourite pyjamas. After lunch it will be teachers vs grade 7 in special Christmas themed events.
Friday Dec. 18th – 12:15 dismissal – Favourite Christmas Character Day – come dress as one of your favourite Christmas characters – it can be as simple as a caroler (scarf and touque) or something more involved. It’s up to you. After recess we will watch a short Christmas movie and sing Christmas Carols before the students are dismissed.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT & LIGHTS OF HOPE
This year’s Christmas Concert will be held on Thursday, December 10th, starting with refreshments Refreshments in the Parish Hall at 5:30pm then the Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6:00pm and then the Christmas Concert at 6:30pm in the Church. Children are to go to their classrooms immediately following the lighting of the tree. Children are to be picked up after the concert in their classroom. Teachers will be checking their students out of class after the concert; children are not to leave the classroom without their parent.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) AND PARENT SUPPORT MEETING (PSM)
Each year there are a handful of meetings that provide critical and useful information to parents. Out of those meetings three are mandatory for parents to attend. The first was our Parent Information Night in September. The other two are our AGM and PSM (Mandatory for grade 4-7 parents). To help you attend these meetings we have combined them and made them on the same night. On January 21st, 2016 starting at 6:30pm we will have our AGM followed by our PSM at approx. 7pm. We are providing you with six weeks notice so that you can make arrangements to attend. Once again we will be offering an hour of parent participation per family that attends.
FINAL CALL FOR CLASSROOM PARENT REP
Unfortunately we have had a low response to the parent rep position for each class. So far reps have come forward for the Grade 2 and 6. If we do not get a parent rep for each class we will move to an alternate safety arrangement.
To improve student safety and to enhance communication between the school and parents, we are implementing a new system for parents to be contacted quickly and efficiently if children need to be sent home due to an emergency, problem on or in the school area, or if there is a power outage. We will be asking for two parents to be classroom representatives per class. A good candidate should be easily contacted and have the flexibility to call parents when an issue arises. The class reps are responsible for:
1. Organizing, implementing and initiating a phone tree for all parents in their class.
2. Working with the teacher to help communicate to parents not only about emergencies, but classroom items that are ineffectively communicated through letters and email (for example not enough drivers the day before or a driver is sick for a field trip).
3. Help support school and classroom initiatives that require parent support (for example reminders or clarification around certain events)
As this is a new position in the school we will continue to evaluate and make adjustments. Parent Participation hours will be given to the classroom reps.
If this interests you and you feel that you fit the criteria for the position, please contact Mr. van der Pauw at principal@stbernadette.ca
We hope to have this new system in place by the new year.
PARENT SURVEY
So far we have approximately 27% of our school community respond to our call to take the Parent Survey. From time to time the PEC collects feedback from parents to help assess the needs and direction of the school. This is done in a variety of ways: surveys, AGMs, Parent Info Night, etc. The PEC is putting out a short survey that they would like every parent to fill out. It should not take any more than 2-5 mins to fill out. Please click here to be taken to the survey.
Thank you for your cooperation and support.
LOST & FOUND
There are quite a few items in the Lost & Found. Please ensure that all uniform items & outerwear are clearly marked with the student’s name on it. There is also quite a collection of water bottles. Items that have not been claimed by the end of next week will be donated to charity.
SCHOOL CLOSURE
In the event of weather conditions, or unforeseen circumstances the principal will decide whether or not the school will be open on that day. Notice of school closures will be announced on CKNW 980 on the AM dial and posted on the school website when possible. Please do not call the school; it is important that we keep all lines free in case of an emergency.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
With the cold and rainy season coming, please make sure your children are appropriately dressed for the weather. Students are expected to go outside for recess in order to get some exercise and fresh air. Coats, gloves, hats and boots are recommended, depending on the weather. Please make sure your child has everything he or she needs before coming to school.
If it is raining when your child comes to school, the students are permitted to go directly into the classrooms. They must still go through their designated doors and not through the front doors. Any outdoor footwear must be removed immediately upon entering the school. Please make sure that all coats, boots, umbrellas, etc. are labeled with your child’s name.
NOTIFICATION OF CAREGIVERS
If someone else is going to be your child(ren)’s caregiver/guardian, whether it is for one day or one week, please give this information to the school office. In the event of an emergency, it is extremely important that you notify the school if you are going to be away and someone else will be looking after your child(ren).
St. Bernadette Elementary Catholic School
13130 65B Ave
Surrey, BC V3W 9M1
phone: (604) 596-1101
fax: (604) 596-1550
stbernadette@telus.net
